The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03

The Yule.log is lighted again, and the mis-
lie toe is hung up, Maid Marian and the Lore
OF Misrule hold their court once more, ant
the waits sing In the moonlight. The boar
head wreathed with rosemary Is brought III
Plum. Pudding and Mince.Pe swell the savor>
pageant, and old Christmas, crowned Will
perennial youth, returns To receive universe
homage. His cOurtlers are clad In their pes
array. Every minion sports new douolet o.
jerkin. Every buxom maid blooms more a.
luripgly In fresh fardlngale. Even the FUR
tan doffs his sad.cOlored garment, etc.
The Christmas !Scri5nsr comes In brilliant
cover enclosing very brilliant series OF shor
stories, and illustrated articles, all complete
in this number There is not so much Christ
mas in itself. but II is specially welcome at
time when charming tales like these are spec
tally sought for and particularly enjoyable.
81. Nicholas is full OF Christmas. Rev. W.
GLADDEN. revives the old Saint in the new role,
"Santa Claus in the Pulpit" Sarah j. Pritch'
ard gives an interesting sketch OF Puritan
days and of the difficulties which attended the
setting up of "The First Christmas Tree in
New England" In "The Children's Christ
mas Club of Washington CITY," is given q
brief history of noble charity to the poor OF
Washington. There are, besides, new stories
by Mrs. Burnett, Frank X, Stockton, short
ones by Boyesen, Trowbridge, &c, making a
superb number
The American Magazine is In all its features
Christmas number The leading article,
d IN, A ri
II. Ingersol, gives occasion for the frontis'
piece, "The Boy Christ Disputing with the
Doctors" engraved from q picture by Frank
Moss; and sculptured Head OF Christ" by
Launt Thompson, is reproduced in line en-
craving on the cover. The article shows how
our leading painters and sculptors have rep
resented the ideal Christ. Charles Gayarre
tells how various means Of amusement were
provided for rich and poor fifty years ago, in
a quarter of New Orleans that seems then to
have been devoted, at least in the holiday sea-
son, to the Genius of Pleasure. christmas
in the Grand Army" is the story told by one
Of the surviving members of society found
ed among our soldiers during the war. There
are articles also. on Salmon Fishing, Natural
Gas at Findlay, Short Stories, book reviews,
&c. &c.
The December number of The Popular
Sc,ence Monthly is one Of even more than the
usual variety and attrachveness. The open
ing article, Inventions at Panama." embod-
les descriptions of the engines and devices OF
recent Invention by means of which the eX-
cavation of the canal has been made practical.
The article by the Hon. David A. Wells re-
atcs especially TO the Changes in the Rela-
tive Values of the Precious Metals. In "The
Rise OF the Granger Movement" Mr.. G. w.
Person narrates an interesting chapter in the
recent economic history Of our country. Mr..
Grant Allen gives in american Cinque-
Foils" bright and valuable contribution to
American botanical lore. The most interest
Of all the articles will be attached by the ma
ority of readers to "The Boyhood Of Darwin"
NJ written by himself, and incorporated by
his son Francis in his "Life and Letters of
Charles Darwin" which is about to be pub
ished by ID. Appleton & Co. There are arti-
lies by Professor Huxley on "Science and
Practical Life" Prof. B. T.. Fernow, "Our
Forestry Problem" Mr.. II. W. Bartol, "The
Dangers of Receiverships;" "A Great Les
ION" by the Duke Of Argyll; NJ. Bertheot,
Metals of Ancient Chaldea," and Mr.. Newell,
THE Color of Words" etc.
The December Forum is one of the best of
Ia ,oa, Eyary artiolo 10 iimaIy op1 oil ara
thoughtful and well written. The import
nee of the subjects treated is indicated
~ the table of c0ntents:A Review OF the
fisheries Question; by Prof Snow; The
Western View of the tariff, by Senator Kas-
ow; Refundng the Public Debt, Prof.
ADAMS; The Nulliders of the Constitution,
iurat Halstead Books that have helped me,
Rev. Dr. Hill; Irish agitation in America, A.
!. Lowell; Argument for the Unseen, Prof
'arkcr; The issue Next Year, Jas Parton
Iollegc Disturbances, Prof. Bartlett Woman
nd the Temperance Question, Frances Will
ard Communication at Sea, Park Benjamin.
1t is certainly a unquestionable evidence of a
eep interest in American History among the
masses, that that most excellent monthly,
ne MdgaZine Of american History has been
BILE to complete its 18th volume, anu is ev.
emily more prosperous and popular than
yer. It's able management has had, Of
curse, not little to do with its success but
Without an interest in the reading public even
hat could not have made 1t success The
Ndgasine is also creator Of interest as its
rticles are always popular and readable,
eading up to further study. The contents of
he Holiday issue are most agreeably diversi-
ed Our Country fifty Years Ago, by the
iditOr; Stephen A. Douglas and the Free
olers, by A. w. Clason; Aaron Burr; a
tudy, by Charles II. Peck; Apotheosis of the
by W. M. Dickson; A Winters
Work Of Captain of Dragons, by General
}. 'St. George Cooke; Notes from Harvard
,ollege, by Rev. Henry &. Badger; The
Treadmill in America, by Prof. Oliver P. Hub
ard; the Prototype Of Leather Stocking,
" Henry II. Hurlbut; Christmas, by Gilbert
lash, an exquisite poem.
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You ought TO see the new edition of